Priya Pilates Trainers

Heidi Benson

Heidi Benson has been an American Council on Exercise (ACE) and Lifestyle Fitness Coach for over 20 years. She has taught a variety of fitness classes across the country and developed a successful fitness consulting business on the East Coast. Opening Priya Pilates & Fitness is the culmination of her dreams.

Heidi is certified for Pilates through Balanced Body University and has completed all of the certifications and has also been trained under the tutelage of Katrina Foe of Personalized Fitness in Phoenix. Heidi is available for personal training on the Reformer, Exo-Chair, Tower, CoreAlign, and Mat Work. She also teaches group fitness classes in pilates, kickboxing, step, strength training and flexibility. Embark on a journey designed to empower you through self-reliance, personal responsibility and physical challenges.

CoreAlign training is a perfect way to develop upright posture, good balance, and core strength. It was developed by physical therapist Jonathan Hoffman to help people recover from injuries. It is also a solid workout that will fine-tune your athletic abilities. Whether you’re training to overcome an injury or seeking a core-strengthening exercise, it is a great addition to your routine.

Private Training Rates:

Private Session w/Heidi: $70/hr

Achmed Valk

Achmed has been dedicated to professional theatrical dance and fitness instruction since graduating High School. He is a European licensed Physical Therapist and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance with an emphasis in Choreography and Video Composition from the University of California at Irvine. There, he completed graduate level Pilates course. As a company member of the Sacramento Ballet, recovering from knee surgery, he started his intensive Pilates Training in 1986 under Patricia Whitehead at the at that time only Dance Medicine Clinic in the U.S: the St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco.

While a full-time UNLV Dance faculty member, he continued his Pilates training at the Las Vegas Sports and Dance Medicine Clinic for two years under Dolly Ridderplaat. While serving as the Ballet Master of the Los Angeles Modern Dance & Ballet Company, he trained at the original Pilates Studio of Los Angeles/Performing Arts Physical Therapy in West Hollywood under Master Teacher, Melinda Bryan, PT three times a week. Over the last 24 years, Achmed has attained the level of being a master teacher himself in theatrical dance, general fitness and in personalized innovative Pilates techniques to increase overall strength, flexibility, coordination, and endurance for individualized rehabilitation and overall physical conditioning.

Basic Ballet Barre & Stretch with Achmed: This One-hour class is rooted in classical ballet positions to stretch and strengthen the legs, trunk and arms. We use both parallel and turned out positions for the legs. This class is for anyone, you don't need a dance background! The class is $15/session and you should book a spot online as space is limited to 6 people at a time. You can also call Achmed for more details. (808) 990-4622

Private Training Rates:

Private Session w/Achmed: $70/hr

Please call Achmed to schedule your appointment (808) 990-4622

Sandy Lowchow

I was born and raised in Germany. When I moved to the US in 2004 I had a lot of opportunities to try out new things. Coming from a carrier as a porcelain painter & sales manager for the same company for 13 years I was very exited to dive right into fitness, exercise and health. That was always something I wanted to do but never seemed to have enough time for. My husband and I moved to Flagstaff and I got myself into a lot of sweating through Bikram yoga. I started my practice during those never ending, long, cold winter months, which reminded me of those we have in Germany.

After three years I was ready for something different. That was the time when I discovered Pilates. I was very enthusiastic when I took my first private session in a small studio. After three classes I knew Pilates is what I wanted to teach. I love the detail in body mechanism, the endless variety of exercises, the slow but very controlled moves and modifications for each individual.

Three month later I signed up for a certification program at the Kore Pilates Studio in San Diego. When I got certified in Mai of 2007 I could not be happier. Being trained in Mat work, Ladder Barrel, Reformer, Chair, Tower and small apparatus I had all the tools to improve a person’s flexibility, strength and coordination. Six month later I added another certificate specializing on Tennis and Golf.